One cup at a time
Poured from the heart
Holy Grounds is the place
For your Sunday to start
First Impressions
Think back to the
first time you walked in the doors of Vineyard Boise. What made the
first impression? For some it is the warm greeting from the ushers and
the friendliness of the nursery workers. Others were excited about the
Rockin’ V Ranch children’s ministry. But there is another group of
people who only speak one language in the morning – coffee.
You can tell who
these people are as soon as they walk in the door. They take about two
steps inside the church, stop, stare at the Holy Grounds canopy, and
break into a wide smile. You can tell by their expression of relief
that they have found a church that relates to their culture, that
speaks their dialect and ministers to their needs. The bonus comes
when they find they can actually bring their cup of coffee with them
into the sanctuary. There is no scowling deacon with a trashcan at his
feet blocking the entrance into the service.
These people are free to come as they are, coffee cup and all.
Can I buy you a cup?
Holy Grounds does a
lot to add to the culture of Vineyard Boise. You can always strike up
a conversation and make new friends with someone standing in line.
Inga Johnson, espresso barista for the all-important 9 a.m. service,
relates this story, “One young lady handed me a $20 bill to pay for
her latte but I didn’t have the change. I told her she could keep
the $20 and pay me next week. The
lady proceeded to tell me it was her first time at the Vineyard. The
next lady in line spoke up, “I would love to pay for your coffee
today.” The newcomer was amazed and returned later to tell me how
she couldn’t believe that strangers would offer her such
kindness.”
This expression of
caring is normal for the Holy Grounds crew. They have developed an
attitude of service that is evident in the way the handle not just the
coffee machinery but also the people they are serving.
They arrive early, stay late to clean up, and even staff most
special events held at the church. No one is paid; in fact, all of the
money generated at the coffee bar on Sunday is used to provide coffee
for all the other activities and classes through the week.
If you show up on Wednesday morning for a woman’s Bible study
or a Wednesday evening adult education class coffee is always made and
ready. If someone comes to the Barnabas Center for a food box at The
Pantry or visits the Medical Clinic, they can sit down and enjoy a cup
of coffee and a cookie while they wait.
Other ministries
partner with Holy Grounds to help bless workers on Sunday mornings.
The van drivers are equipped with “Coffee and Muffin” coupons for
the friends they pick up from the Boise Rescue Mission, City Light and
the Feeding God’s Children ministry from Julia Davis Park. Sunday
school teachers from the Rockin’ V and the ushers and greeters from
the main service are rewarded with a cup of joe either before or after
their shifts. It is also not uncommon early on Sunday morning to have
a line of salivating pastors in the Kitchen asking Inga whether or not
the espresso machine has heated up yet.
It’s the Human
"Beans"
Gary and Carolyn
Dietrich are the assistant leaders of Holy Grounds. They have served
at this post since the church was in the Waremart building on
Overland. Each Sunday morning they arrive at the church at 7:15 a.m.
getting the coffee brewing, icing down the juice and water bottles,
and setting up the condiment tables.
They have found an important niche in the church where they can
serve together, using the gifts of hospitality that are such an
evident part of their lives.
Lori Thompson, the
administrator of Holy Grounds, has been overseeing this ministry for
the past six years. It is Lori’s decorating flair that you see in
the lobby and in the coffee bar. All of the coffee knick-knacks have
been hunted down by Lori and her friends at estate sales and antique
shops.
Lori and Inga
together made the rounds of local coffee shops several years ago to
pick up tips of the trade in both making the drinks as well as
service. They’ve improved the coffee, the coffee makers, and the
training they provide to their volunteers. Making good espresso is a
serious matter to Inga. Ask her how it is done and prepare yourself
for a science lesson!
“We are very
fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers,” Lori said.
“It doesn’t take much effort to really bless people and
make new friends while you are at it.”
They have also kept
the atmosphere fun. Several years ago they had a contest to name the
coffee bar. Janet Ingrao came up with the winning name of Holy
Grounds. Other people suggested naming all of the drink names after
the pastors and calling the coffee bar, “Tri it, you’ll like
it.”
It’s the Coffee
Beans
On
an average Sunday, Holy Grounds prepares over 150 cups of coffee and
60 specialty espresso drinks all before the morning services begin. As
the idea is to enhance Sunday mornings worship service, not compete
with it, they pull the curtain down as soon as the worship band starts
playing. There is also a growing crew on Sunday evenings that keeps
the java flowing.
If you haven’t
already done so, drop by and meet the Holy Ground baristas. If you
would like to join their team, tell them. They will sit you down and
let you know what shifts and openings are available – most likely
over a cup of coffee.
5 ways to know you’ve been
spending too much time at Holy Grounds.
- The
ushers don’t greet you when you arrive; they just get out of
the way.
- Although
everyone in line knows your name, they just call you,
“Jitters.”
- You
tried bringing your own stool and pulling it up to the coffee
bar.
- You
buy the entire Holy Grounds crew Christmas presents each year.
- You
suggested adding a box on the tithe envelope to conveniently pay
your coffee tab.
